Murder Fir Christmas (3 page)

“You won’t mind if I confirm that, will you?” she asked, taking out her radio.

“No. I’m Allen Wise, and this is Tagger Reamis. You can call Chief Griffin or Rufus is on the radio on the
Teardrop
. You must be the new Wildlife Agent. Welcome to Sweet Pepper.”

The older man put out his hand to shake hers. Rufus answered her call and told her the two men should be there. “They’ll take Harvey and Ray to the coroner’s office. Don’t worry about it. Finish up what you’re doing and get off the island as soon as you can.”

Bonnie would have to remember that in Tennessee they had coroners. In Alabama they had medical examiners. Just one of a thousand things she’d have to get used to—that and bossy firemen. She wasn’t used to being told what she should do.

“Sorry.” She shook hands with Allen and Tagger. “I know things can get weird with handling bodies. I believe this may be a murder rather than an accident. I guess we’ll have to see what shakes loose when the fire is out.”

They all looked up at the flames, which had mostly been quenched by the heavy water from the fire boat. It was still hot and smoldering in the dry leaves from the fall. They could catch on again easily in those conditions.

As she was looking up, the first few flakes of snow from the promised winter storm fell delicately on her face. Snow would help put out the fire. Any moisture was better than none.

The two men covered Harvey’s body with a tarp, carefully lifted it to the boat, and then did the same with Ray’s.

“Don’t wait too long out here,” Tagger said with a grin. “We don’t want to lose you too.”

“Thanks. I’ll get off the island as soon as I can.”

She took the animals she’d captured and put them in her boat. When she looked back along the shore, the young wolf was still waiting there. He’d finally laid down on the gravel and sand.

Bonnie wasn’t sure if he could make the swim to the mainland. She didn’t relish being gnawed by him, although she’d had her rabies shot and wasn’t afraid of that. The snow kept falling, now mixed with some freezing rain. The wolf didn’t move, and it started to cover him as it did the rocks and shrubs along the water.

Common sense told her to leave him there and he’d find a way back on his own. Compassion and a great love of all animals made her get out of the boat and approach him again. That love was the reason she’d become a Wildlife Agent.

“Let’s not make both of us sorry that I’m doing this.” She took off her jacket and crept closer to the wolf. He looked up at her with intelligence and pain in his eyes. “I’m Bonnie. Maybe you can introduce yourself later. Right now, we should get off the island. I hope that’s okay with you.”

The wolf closed his eyes as she wrapped her coat around his ragged body. He barely weighed anything as she lifted him gently. His breath came out as a mixture of pants and growls.

“Trust me. No one is going to hurt you now. Just lay back and enjoy the ride.”

Chapter Three

The lake water was so cold that the snow and ice stuck to the surface. Already the boat was glazed with it. The
Tennessee Teardrop
still waited by the island even though the water cannon and hoses were off. A group of five firefighters that included Chief Griffin started into the woods with axes and shovels. They’d have to make sure the fire was completely out before they left. She didn’t envy them their job.

The
Teardrop
was big enough to navigate anything but a frozen lake. Bonnie’s boat was in good shape but didn’t care for the thickness of the water. She kept her focus on the boat reaching the dock on the other side of the lake. The wolf was quiet where she put him in a small pocket between the boat wall and the seat. She’d carefully kept him away from the other animals even though they were in sacks. She knew he could still smell them.

The snow was falling much harder by the time she reached the dock and secured the boat. Putting on her elbow-high, leather gloves again to protect her hands and forearms, she carefully let the animals she’d captured out on land. They ran off quickly, although the possum had a few snarky complaints about his treatment.

The little wolf wasn’t doing as well. He wasn’t unconscious, but he was barely breathing and didn’t move or growl when she picked him up in her jacket. Before covering the boat to protect it from the storm, Bonnie realized that her truck was still in town. When she couldn’t find the keys to the Hummer in the boat, she assumed Harvey had them.

She thought about calling the fire brigade for help after the boat was protected, but with firefighters still on the island, there wasn’t much they could do to help. She had to get back to town and get the wolf to a vet.

All the lines were busy at the police switchboard. Probably with weather-related issues. Bonnie saw a man setting up his boat for the storm too. There was a big, black pickup nearby, the only one in the parking lot. She got the wolf in her arms again and walked over to ask for a ride.

“Excuse me,” she hailed him. “I’m Bonnie Tuttle with the Federal Wildlife Agency. I need a ride into town to get my pickup. Would you mind taking me there?”

She could commandeer his vehicle, but this wasn’t the kind of emergency the agency meant for that power. Her partner’s death was going to be hard enough to explain—especially on her first day—she didn’t want to explain that she took this man’s truck to save a wolf’s life.

He looked up at her from under his cowboy hat. “I’ll be glad to take you into town, Agent. I’m Matthew Brown Elk.” He shook her hand. “What’s that you’ve got?”

“A wolf pup. He was on the island during the fire. I’m hoping to get him to a vet in time.”

Matthew nodded toward the Hummer. “Is that not yours?”

It had the insignia of the Federal Wildlife Agency on the door, of course. She knew he must think she was a complete idiot.

“Something happened to my partner on the island. He has the keys. I’m sorry to rush you, but can we go now?”

He clearly wasn’t the rushing type. She watched him impatiently as he thought about her story, at least that was what she thought he was doing.

“There’s no vet around here that’s gonna take a wolf. Dalmatians and kittens, but no wild animals.”

“Can you just give me a ride into town? I’ll take it from there. Thanks.”

“Sure. I can take you to the vet’s office, if you like. Maybe you can convince them that a wolf would be a safe patient.”

She stared into his dark eyes. His face had features from a Native American heritage, maybe Cherokee. They were still standing in the snow, large flakes falling on them. The roads were probably getting hazardous. She knew the road into Christmas Tree Valley got icy and dangerous quickly. It might already be too late to get out of Sweet Pepper.

“Thanks. But I can find someone who’ll help me with the wolf. All I need is a ride back to town.”
Right now
, she wanted to add but didn’t.

“I can give you a hand with him. I’ve worked on wolves before. I’m not a vet, but I might be your best bet in this case.”

Her radio went off at the same time as her cell phone. Her phone was in her jacket pocket and the radio was on her belt. With her hands full holding the wolf, she couldn’t reach either one.

“Shall I?” he asked.

She almost said no. He had laughing eyes. She never trusted men who smiled too much. But it might be someone who could actually offer her a quick ride into town. Maybe the fire brigade members who’d left with Harvey’s body had come back.

“Sure. The radio, please.” She shivered as a strong gust of wind blew off the lake. At least the wolf was warm in her jacket.

It was Chief Rogers wanting to know what was going on. “I’ve got Harvey Shelton’s body under a tarp in my office, Agent Tuttle. The road was already impassable going to Pigeon Forge. I need you back here to answer some questions about what happened out there.”

“The keys for the Hummer are with Harvey,” she told him as her companion held the button for her to speak. “I’m still at the lake and trying to find a ride back, Chief.”

“I’m here too,” Matthew said into the radio. “I’ll bring Agent Tuttle back with me, Don. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

“Is that you, Brown Elk? All right then. You should be able to get her back here. Thanks.”

“Chief, I—” But she’d missed her opportunity. Chief Rogers was done, leaving her to the same problem she already had. Great.

“Look.” She could see being nice about this wasn’t working. “I need to get this wolf somewhere he can be treated. Can you do that in a short amount of time, or do I need to take your truck and do it myself?”

He grinned. “You can try. The last person who wanted to take it ended up unconscious in the street. I don’t think that’s a good way to begin our friendship. I’ve worked with Agent Shelton. He was a good man but not much of a tracker.”

“Okay.” She closed her eyes and asked for patience. “Can we go now?”

“Sure. Let me get the door.” He clipped her radio back to her belt. “Are you sure you don’t want me to answer your phone too? That might be annoying to the wolf. I know it’s annoying me.”

“Let’s just get in the truck and go back to town. I can answer it as we go.”

He opened the passenger door and helped her in so she wouldn’t have to let go of the wolf. He didn’t waste any time getting to the driver’s side and starting the engine.

Bonnie’s phone started ringing again. It was her mother.

“Where are you?” she asked. “There’s a big storm coming. You might have to stop in town before you get here. The road into the valley might be closed.”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be fine. I’m in Sweet Pepper now. Has Eric left yet?”

“No. His plane was delayed due to the bad weather. Do you want to talk to him?”

“That’s okay.” She was very conscious of the other man listening to her. “I’ll get there as soon as I can.”

“Be careful, Bonnie. I know how you hate driving in snow.”

“That was a long time ago. I’ll be fine. Don’t worry.” She ended the call and put the phone in her pocket. She was relieved to hear the wolf growl faintly.

“So, you’re a native coming home.” Matthew grinned but kept his eyes on the slippery road. “And you live in Christmas Tree Valley. That’s a coincidence. I do too. You must be Rose Tuttle’s girl that she always talks about. No wonder you’re shivering since you’re used to that Alabama climate.”

Bonnie clamped her teeth together to keep them from chattering. “I also had a refreshing swim in the lake trying to catch the man who started the fire.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” He turned on the heat in the truck. “Did you get him?”

“Yes. But someone was out there with a rifle. He shot Ray Hoy and Harvey.”

“Seriously?” The truck tires slid off the road a few feet, but he recovered them. “Harvey and Ray are both dead? Who’d want to kill them?”

“No doubt Harvey had some enemies as a Wildlife Agent.” She shrugged, highly aware of her cold, wet clothes and shoes. “Or it was a mistake. I’m not sure. Ray might’ve had help with the fire and his partner didn’t want anyone to know he was involved.”

“I could see that. Arson is punishable with prison time.” He mulled the matter over. “It could’ve been Vince Stookey. Those two are always together.”

“Thanks. I’ll check that out.”

Though it was a slippery, dangerous ride back into Sweet Pepper, they finally made it. Matthew parked the truck on the street, and Bonnie got ready to go inside to talk to Chief Rogers.

“I’ll take the wolf,” he said. “Trust me. If anyone can fix him, I can. Ask Don when you go inside.”

She was between a rock and a hard place. She knew time was valuable as far as finding Harvey’s killer. That was no doubt her primary effort in this, and yet she didn’t want to leave the young wolf without help. He could die while she answered questions and drew diagrams.

He held out his arms. “I won’t hurt him. I promise.”

Bonnie had no choice. She gave him the wolf, still wrapped in her jacket. “Take good care of him.”

“You want your jacket?” He peered into the warm cocoon she’d created for the animal. “Maybe not. Here, take him back a minute.”

She took the wolf back, wondering if he’d changed his mind about tending to him. Instead, Matthew took off his heavy jacket and put it around her shoulders. It hung down almost to her knees and ballooned around her, still carrying his warmth and scent.

“Thanks,” she said awkwardly. “But what will you do?”

“I’ll be fine. Give me the wolf. Good luck trying to explain what happened. Call me when you’re finished.”

“I don’t have your cell phone number.”

He rattled off his number, and she quickly punched it into her phone. He had the wolf and her jacket. It seemed the day was doomed to be full of surprises—most of them unpleasant.

She felt stupid walking into town hall wearing a coat that was too big for her, but she’d finally stopped shivering. She wasn’t taking it off to appease any small-town questions.

There were a few unusual looks when she got inside, but no one said anything about it. Sandie rushed to get her a towel and a cup of hot coffee. Bonnie felt even worse about dripping on the floor. At least it was tile so it would clean up easily.

“That’s Brown Elk’s jacket, isn’t it?” Chief Rogers stalked from his office. “You look rough. I can lend you a dry uniform if that would help.”

Embarrassed, she told him she’d go out and get some dry clothes before they talked. “Sorry. I had a wolf in my arms and didn’t want to put him down. Matthew is looking after it.”

“He’s the best we’ve got,” the chief confirmed. “You stay put. John will take care of that for you.” He turned to a tall man with brown hair who was wearing an officer’s uniform. “Will you get Agent Tuttle something dry to wear?”

John Trump stared at him. “Sir?”

“My blue suitcase in the front seat,” she told him, fishing her keys out of her wet pocket. “Thanks, Officer Trump. I’m Agent Bonnie Tuttle. Nice to meet you.”

He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you too, ma’am. I’m sorry this had to be your first day in Sweet Pepper. We don’t have many murders around here.”